AZUSA, Calif., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dr. Eric S. Rosenberg, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, has been appointed chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Viral Genetics, Inc. , an emerging biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies for HIV and AIDS.
Based on the results of Viral Genetics' recent clinical trial, Dr. Rosenberg was appointed to a more active leadership role in the development of VGV-1 and thymus nuclear protein. He will be advising the company on future studies and the design of a clinical development strategy leading toward the commercialization of VGV-1 in the US.
"VGV-1 from Viral Genetics is intriguing. Results from the recent trial show a viral load reduction in subsets of HIV-infected patients, and there also appears to be associated effects on the immune system. There is the potential that this drug may have a mechanism of action different from current HIV therapies," stated Dr. Eric S. Rosenberg, chairman of Viral Genetics' Scientific Advisory Board. "My first objective is to recruit a group of leading scientists to augment the board's expertise in immunology and virology. We will review available data on VGV-1 and thymus nuclear protein, and assist with the design of an immediate action plan for the company. I expect that initial studies will focus on understanding the product's mechanism and optimal dosing."
Dr. Rosenberg succeeds Dr. Ronald Moss as the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board.
"We are very pleased that Dr. Rosenberg is taking a leading role on our Scientific Advisory Board and helping to enhance our focus on immunology. We are eager to embark on a clinical development strategy leading toward commercialization in the US, and we believe his help in overseeing this will be invaluable," said Haig Keledjian, president and CEO of Viral Genetics. "In particular, with the recent results from our South African trial, Dr. Rosenberg's advice will be crucial as we look at optimizing the dosing of VGV-1's current formulation and understanding how VGV-1 works so that we may explore its potential as an apparent immune-based therapy."
Dr. Rosenberg has an extensive background studying HIV and the human immune system with more than 100 publications to date. Board-certified in internal medicine and infectious disease, his research and clinical practice are focused on the HIV infection, infectious disease, and transplant medicine.
In addition to his post at Harvard, Dr. Rosenberg is also associate director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory and director of the Education Unit of the Clinical Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Rosenberg is an editorial board member of the Journal of Immune-Based Therapies and Vaccines and formerly an associate editor of AIDS Clinical Care. He is the chair of the Treatment Working Group of the National Institutes of Health Acute Infection Early Disease Research Program and a member of the Massachusetts General Hospital Clinical Research Council. Dr. Rosenberg earned his MD from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and completed his internship, assistant residency, and chief residency in internal medicine at the University of North Carolina. He subsequently went to Massachusetts General Hospital for subspecialty training in the field of infectious diseases.
About VGV-1
VGV-1 is a therapy based on thymus nuclear protein which is extracted from bovine thymus tissue. As a type of immune-based therapy, it focuses on boosting the immune system to allow the body to fight HIV more efficiently. Discovered and developed by both Drs. Harry Zhabilov Sr. and Jr., thymus nuclear protein technology has been studied in five human clinical trials for the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS.
About Viral Genetics
Viral Genetics, Inc. is a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies for HIV and AIDS using its thymus nuclear protein compound. This compound may have other potential applications for other infectious, autoimmune, and immunological deficiency diseases that the company intends to study in the future. Viral Genetics believes that VGV-1 represents a significant and unique approach to treating HIV due to the apparently novel mechanism, low toxicity profile, simple dosing regimen, and short-course of treatment. Online at www.viralgenetics.com
For additional information, please contact Kirsten Ayars at 805-452-7909. For investor inquiries, please contact Evan Pondel at 310-279-5973.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with clinical development, regulatory approvals, and other risks described by Viral Genetics, Inc. from time to time in its periodic reports filed with the SEC. VGV-1 is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world. While Viral Genetics believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions contained therein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of Viral Genetics to establish the efficacy of VGV-1 in the treatment of any disease or health condition and the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of VGV-1 in the United States. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Viral Genetics or any other person that the objectives and plans of Viral Genetics will be achieved.
Viral Genetics, Inc.CONTACT: Kirsten Ayars of Viral Genetics, Inc., +1-805-452-7909; orInvestors, Evan Pondel, +1-310-279-5973, for Viral Genetics, Inc.
